locally
Americanadverb
-
in a particular place, area, location, etc.
-
with regard to place.
-
in a local area; nearby.
Not much interest is taken in the chess tournament locally.
adverb
Etymology
Origin of locally
First recorded in 1400–50, locally is from the late Middle English word localliche. See local, -ly
Explanation
Things that happen locally occur close to a specific place — near your town, for example. Locally grown tomatoes are picked on nearby farms and sold at your neighborhood market. If you shop locally, you support your neighbors' businesses whenever possible, buying things that are made and sold in your city or state. If there's been an increase in population locally, it means the total number of people living in your immediate area has gone up. This adverb can also describe things that occur only in one restricted part of the body: "Apply the ointment locally to the itchy spots."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
America needs a national reunion to move forward, and it needs to begin locally and personally.
From Salon • May 12, 2026
California is “creating more jobs in low-paid, locally serving healthcare or healthcare-related sectors and losing jobs in high-paying, high-value, export-oriented manufacturing and highly paid service sectors,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026
Aramco has also been able to rely almost entirely on locally sourced materials to address disruptions to output.
From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026
In county jail, a person serves time locally, often with possibilities for work release, electronic monitoring or early release.
From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026
It regulated the junk food that got sold to children via vending machines on school property while also giving funding to schools to establish gardens and use locally grown produce.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
